Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-10

about as near 10 60 around the world
one way as the other Peter estimated,
aud he had travelled II and ought to
know-so she would not arrive till
some time in the fall. Peter went back
10 work and built the house aud earned
surprising amount OF money by working
for the neighbors, and had the very best OF
good luck In every way. The house was
even more sumptuous and really more ele-
CANT In its appointments than lac had dared
to hope. He invited the neighbors TO ex-
anime tit was one OF those residences
that would bear inspection. An! If his
father and his mother could sec what
house he had built! And his brothers and
sisters and hts grandfather, Hendrick An
tijuntt Peterson, who lived up on TIKI
mountain, II he could see IL and tell il on
his famous visit years ago to st. Peters
burg he saw any houses which for real
comfort and usefulness surpassed his
grandson's
So everything prospered with Peter, and
ut last letter came saying that the ticket
had reached the little village and had been
duly inspected by every one living in il and
he little valley as well, including the au-
thorties and public officers, aud eves. nis
grandfather, who lived up on the mountain,
so far as they knew, though his grandfather
thought it was perhaps just trihe small
Tor the very great distance; and that Mary
would start in about a week and would sail
away from the same little auay-sail away
TO meet her Peter in America, as
she expressed it, and then she g.yrsu
her name down in the corner and
put in a little pale blue flower which she
had plucked as she came down from the
mountain after showing the ticket to his
grandfather.
So Mary was coming to Prairie City so
soonl Yes, in week, perhaps sooner,
perhaps little longer, and she would come
TO Prairie City Peter could scarcely real
ize it. He was so very happy and he was
soon TO be so much happier He had been
TO see the minister, Rev. Hans Mustola
Mykkala, who lived over in another settle
ment, and he was TO come to the house of
Peters friend and there was to be a grand
wedding the next day after she came and
then they would go to live in that palace.
All! how surprised Mary would be TO see 50
fine a residence built, all for her and her
Peter!
He must visit every train now, so that he
would be sure to meet her. A passenger
train now ran on that road, which reached
Prairie City in the evening and that was
the one she would come on. This train was
almost as reluctant as the mixed" which
formerly ran, and IL was seldom on time,
but Peter always waited till 1t came, and
drove back with his OK team. Over week
had passed and still she had not come.
One evening there was a light rain and
ii was announced that the train would not
arrive till after midnight. At this the
loungers who had strolled over to witness
the exciting event of the arrival Of train
went back and left Peter and the station
agent alone.
After an hour the rain ceased. This WAC
not followed by a clear SLY, but by prepa-
rations for the real storm Of the night. II
grew very still, and as Peter paced the plat
form he could part of the time hear it roar
ing overhead, but not a breath could be felt
1t was hot and sultry. Flash after fash Of
that vivid lightning seen only on the great,
open prairie followed in rapid succession.
1t was binding in Its brilliancy and ranged
from blood.rcd to white. Much Of 1t was 30
far away that the thunder could net be
heard, but with nothing across the level
plain to screen 1t from the eye 1t seemed
almost as dazzling as if directly overhead.
The great distance that 1t could be seen and
consequently the wide expanse OF the
heavens visible caused the flashes to be
almost continuous. First the whole land
scape for miles was lit up with dazzling
| light, which caused objects 70 take on
weird, strange appearance as IL they alone
were lit up and stood out away from tho
| dark earth, and then darkness followed
which mado Peter stop in his walk involun-
tarily, as if a great black pit had been
opened up at his feet. Part Of the electri-
cal discharges were nearer and the thunder
! fairly shook the earth and the windows
ratified and the lamp in the Office fickered.
All this time the clouds were hurrying
this way and that, borne about by the winds
high up in the heavens. Soon the wind
began to blow in little fitful gusts and then
IT. became stronger and more steady. At
last large drops Of rain began to fall and
the thunder came nearer and then the storm
burst and the rain fell in torrents. For an
hour, between the crashing thunder, the
falling rain and the roar Of the wind, it was
almost impossible for the two watchers in
the depot to hear each other speak. Then
tho thunder and wind partially ceased and
the storm settled into long. steady rain.
1t was about this time that the headlight
of the train was seen ana Pctcr took his
station close 10 the window SO as TO go out
the minute j. arrived. He had been dsap-
! pointed a number Of times, but each time
| helped the chances for the next, and It
seemed as il she must come this time. And
again he thought Of the house, and Of the
wedding tomorrow if she came but more
particularly of Mary herself. 1t almost
seemed as though he would know 1t If she
was in the car before the train stopped.
And he grew very happy thinking about 1t
all and almost knew that she would come
this time.
At last the train came and Peter and the
agent went out. They noticed that it was
very short. the one passenger car was miss.
ing and only the baggage car remained.
! Before the abbreviated train came TO
standstill the conductor was of and OK
| planning that there had been an accident
| back few miles; that the track was par.
TALLY washed out and the train went over
safely except the passenger car, which went
of and turned over in the ditch. The few
passengers had been rescued and were In
the baggage car. Anybody hurtl One
woman, some. But Peter was in the car by
! this time.
And there was Mary at last. She was
| lying on a rude bed made on the floor with
blankets, and was deathly pale. He knelt
by her side, she looked up, perhaps she did
| not know him; yes, she did, she smiled
family but seemed dazed and confused.
He touched his lips to her cheek and raised
her and bore her through the storm into
the depot, and made her as comfortable q
bed on one Of the benches as possible. The
train went Oh and she lay very still. Tho
station agent offered his services, but there
was nothing he could do. She opened her
eyes and spoke. Peter stopped to catch
her words, and she said she felt better,
that she was only faint. She could not be
moved to any more comfortable place while
the storm lasted Prairie City could not
yet boast physician, so the ageu: went
away and left them.
And Peter sat by her side long time be-
fore she spoke again. At last she opened
her eyes and whispered
"Peter, have been long time coming to
see you"
Eyes, Mary, but you are hero now"
II hope can stay, Peter, like IL here"
And she closed her eyes again, and Peter
/ hurried his face In his hnnds and IL seemed